I am not here to sell you right now; I am here to ask you to please read this message because it’s an important one. It’s about believing in your own power, something that is easy to dismiss or forget.
My name is Mercedes Moore and I am the founder of You Are Your Answer.
This self-reflection deck is more than just a product. It is a passion project of mine that took years to complete (reasons to come). And honestly, bringing these cards into fruition whooped my ass in every type of way. The financial part was hard. My emotions were mixed with fear. Yet, the number one way I was tested was with my faith.
I kept asking for a sign from God and the Universe for an idea, any idea, because becoming a business owner was always a dream of mine.
Inspired by my stepfather Roman, I saw his day-to-day being filled with autonomy, freedom and money. The three things I wanted to live by. He chose his own schedule, secured recurring clients, and paid two rents every month (his office and our family home). Yes, this man was working, but to me, he was living the American Dream. As an immigrant, he come to the United States and made a life for himself. He did this on his own accord.
So here I am, with this desire to build my own business, but barely a vision on how to make it happen.
In 2013, I started a blog and YouTube channel called Two Dollars Richer. Fashion and natural hair were the topics. I hit about 8,000 YouTube subscribers and 4,000 Instagram followers in the span of nine years. Almost an entire decade later. The math isn’t mathing, right?
During this time, I did graduate college, got a full-time job, etc… You know, the typical life setup you would expect. But honestly, there was something I glossed over to be successful: A strong vision and commitment. My dad worked 6 days a week and busted his ass day-in and day-out. If he didn’t work, he didn’t get paid. I barely posted videos or photos on my platforms. I didn’t even know if natural hair and fashion was my niche. There was no commitment nor discipline on my end.
Fast forward to the first year of the pandemic, 2019-2020. I was getting ready for another quarantine bedtime when the idea for You Are Your Answer hit me. So I grabbed a pen and paper quickly, jotting down anything that flowed through my pen. The vision was born. The vision was God-given.
Creating YAYA (Skip here if you want the real message)
2020 is when I began to create YAYA—Researching manufacturers, hiring a graphic designer (Ju + Designs), coming up with copy. The whole time I was creating, I realized God didn’t give me this idea just to sell a product; it was really for myself first. I had work to do.
My Inner Child was tested when it came to investing in my product. Spending thousands on cards was taking a leap of faith I didn’t know I had in me. What if I never made a return on my investment? Would I fail?
Becoming grounded was a daily struggle, as I was anxious about introducing YAYA to the world (Once a thought begins, they won’t stop).
Accountability for myself was difficult when my launch dates kept being pushed back. It was glaring when I had boxes of product sitting in my home.
Honestly, I am so proud of myself for getting this far. The website is here! The product is ready to be shipped and sent to your home. Hopefully, to help you on your journey to making the changes in your life you desire.
This message is here to remind you that your dreams in life are possible, but you are the only person capable of making them happen. Yes, a community will support you along the way, but the discipline and strong vision is yours. Continue to do the inner work necessary to keep you motivated. Determine a practice that will ground you every day. Hold yourself accountable for your actions everyday. You can do this. I believe in you.